Summary
The UK holds one of the most valuable health data assets on the planet. NHS records can follow a patient's health across decades, and General Practice (GP) records alone capture around 90% of a person's NHS interactions over their lifetime. Few other countries can match that depth and representativeness. It is a resource with the potential to accelerate the discovery of new medicines, improve patient safety, and attract high-value research and investment to the UK.
ABPI has published a report setting out how that potential can finally be realised. For the first time, there is a clear plan, government backing, and a shared sense across the sector that this is achievable.
Content
What the ABPI’s report recommends
The report is the product of detailed consultation with ABPI member companies, and it is intended to be practical – cutting through a long list of competing asks, and focussing instead on what the sector really needs to improve research output, drive increased investment, and ultimately deliver better treatment to patients.
Three fundamentals stand out:
Comprehensive GP data across all four nations. GP records are the foundation of the UK's longitudinal advantage. Extending reliable access consistently across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is the single most important step.
Independent, standards-based data linkage. The ability to join datasets together accurately and quickly is one of the two biggest factors when deciding where research is carried out. Reliable linkage, with published quality standards, would remove a barrier that has held the UK back for years.
Predictable, commercially competitive service. Researchers need to know how long access will take and what it will cost. Clear, published timelines and fair pricing would give companies the confidence to bring studies to the UK rather than elsewhere.
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